Water-cycle.



W. GREPEAU. WATER OYULB. ,urmourox rum-n s231226, 1s'o1.

'Patented' Apr. 20, 1909.

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W. GREPEAU. WATER CYCLE. APrLIoATIoN HLLTD snr'r. ze, 1907.

. Patented Apr. 2o, 1909.

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VW. GREPEAU. WATER CYCLE. ArrLIoATIoN HLBD ann. z'e, 1907.

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WIT Nif-EEE UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM CREPEAU, OF SCOTIA, NEW YORK.

WATER-CYCLE To all whom it may] concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CREPEAU, a citizen of the United States,residing at Scotia, county of Schenectady, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in lVater-Cycles, of whichthe following is a specification.

The invention relates to such improvements and consists of the novelconstruction and combination of parts hereinafter described andsubsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, andthe referencecharacters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.Similar' characters refer to similar parts in the several 'ligurestherein.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a central longitudinal section of a boat,showing the operating mechanisms in elevation. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the gear-inclosing case and the gear-shafts erected in thebottom of the boat, the other parts being broken away for convenience ofillustration. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the gear-inclosing case takenon the broken line 3-3in Fig 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section takenon the broken line 4-4 in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view similar to that shownin Fig. 2, with a portion of the case removed, showing the inclosedgears and the base shown partly in section. Fig. 6 is a view in sideelevation of a portion of the steering mechanism. Fig. 7 is an endelevation of the part shown in Fig. 6, seen in the direction of thearrow. The fragmentary figures, 2 to 7 both inclusive, are made upon anenlarged scale.

The boat-body, 1, is shown for convenience of illustration made in onepiece of material provided with the floor, 2, from which is erected acycle-frame, 3, similar to the ordinary tandem bicylce-frame. This frameis provided with bearings for the pedalshafts, 4 and 5, upon which aresecured the pedals, 6 and 7, respectively, the upper portion of theframe being provided with two seats, 8 and 9, and with the steering bar10. Then two sets of pedals and two seats are employed, the pedal-shaftsare each provided with a sprocket-wheel, 12, and such wheels areconnected by a sprocket-chain 13.

The propeller screw, 20, is fixed upon a shaft, 21 rotary in suitablebearings, 22, in the rear end of the boat-body, which bearings areprovided with a stuffing-box, 23, which may be made in any known manner.The

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Application led September 26, 1907.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Serial No. 394,636.

inner end of the shaft, 21, is rotary in bearings, 24,secured to thebottom of the boat, as shown in Fig. 1.

The pedal-shaft, 5, is provided with a beveled gear-wheel, 30, fixedthereon, as by the key 31. This gear-wheel meshes with the beveledpinion, 32, fixed upon the shaft, 33, which shaft is connected with thepropellershaft, 21, by means of a link, 34, having a universaljoint-connection at one end with the gear-shaft, and at its other endwith the pro peller-sl aft. The universalj oints may be of any knownform of construction, but are shown in the well known form of two yokespivoted together, as by pivots 35 and 36.

The gear connections, 30 and 32, are inclosed within a case, 40, shownin section in Fig. 3. The case comprises the body-section, 41, and thecover-section, 42, secured thereto by screws 43. The two sections of the`case provide the bearings for the pedalshaft, 5, passing therethrough.The gear 30, is inclosed between the two sections of the case, as shown,and the bearing for the shaft, 33, is located between the section, 41,and the bearing-box section, 44, secured to the case-section. The twocase-sections and. box-section are so fastened together as to forni atight chamber for the gearing; and, by inserting an oil cup, 45, havingan eXteriorly screw-threaded stem, 47, in the rim of the boat-section ofthe case, and which is provided with a screw-threaded aperture adaptedto receive the screw-threaded stem, oil can be sup lied in the ordinarymanner of using oil-fee ing cu s to kee the gear-inclosed chamber supp'ed with oil, which serves tolubricate the gearing as well as thebearings of the gear-shafts. The shaft, 33, is provided with abalance-wheel 49. By connecting the driving-shaft, 33, with thepropeller-shaft, 21, by universal joint-connection, as shown, I am ableto erect the frame which supports the pedal-shafts and driving gear u onthe bottom of the boat, while placing t e propeller-shaft on a muchlower level, necessary to wholly submerge the propeller beneath thewater-line indicated by the lines 50.

As a means for steering the boat, I have provided the rudder, 51,projecting from the rudder-post, 52, which is capable of a rockingmovement in the bearing 53. The rudderpost is provided with a lever, 54,and operatmg cab es, 55, extending along the respective sides of theboat in the usual well known manner, which cables are Wound upon aWindlass, 56, so that a rotary movement of the Windlass in one directionwill steer the boat to the right, and in the opposite direction Willsteer the boat to the left.

As a means for communicating rotary movements to the Windlass, l.provide tiro sets of mechanisms, one set consisting of a hand-Wheel, 57,fixed upon the shaft, 58, rotary in a bearing, 59, and secured by auniversal oint, 60, to the Windlass or drum. This Wheel, 57, isaccessible to an operator standing at the bow of the boat. The other setof steering mechanism comprises the handle-bar, 10, accessible fromseat, S, such handle-bar beine secured to the shaft, 61, capable ofrocking movements in the bearing, 67, secured to the frame rlhe lowerend of the rock-shaft, 61, is connected to a horizontal rock-shaft, 63,by means of a link, 64, connected at one end to the shaft, 61, by meansof a universal-joint, 65, and at its opposite end to the shaft, 63, bymeans of a universal-joint 66. rThe forward end of the rock-shaft, 63,is provided with the gear segment, 70, fixed thereon and adapted to meshwith the iinion, 7 1 fixed upon the shaft 72, rotary in earings 73,Fixed upon the other end of the shaft, 72, is the sprocket- Wheel, 74,connected by a sprocket-chain, 75, with the sprocket-Wheel, 76, fixedupon the journal, 77, of the windlass 56. I am thus able to provideduplicate steering mechanisms, one set of steering mechanism beingaccessible from the forward pedal seat, from which seat the operator ofone set of pedals can steer the boat, and the other set of steeringmechanism being accessible to the helmsman standing` in the bow of theboat, the universal joint-connection between the upright rock-shaft, 6i,and the horizontal rock-shaft, 63, permittingl the connections betweenthe steering handle-bar and the vrindlass to be carried along the bottomof the boat, Where it Will not interfere with. the convenience ofpassengers on the boat.

By having the pedal-shafts and drivingshaft located at a comparativelyhigh level, room is afforded for the revolution of the pedals above thefloor of the boat, and by having the driving-shaft at the same level andextended in a horizontal plane, room is afforded for securing thedrive-wheel to such shaft, and 1t 1s posslble to rotate the Wheel 1n avertlcal plane Without the gyroy scopic effect Which would be reduced ifthe shaft Was placed in an inc ined position, Which effect would reducegreater Wear u )on the bearings. And) by having the pro e er shaftparallel With the driving-shaft, but at a lower level, the screiv willbe Wholly submerged in the Water and the force of Aits thrust Will bedirectly in line With the travel of the boa-t.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ism l. ln aWater-cycle, the combination With a boat-body, of a propeller-shaftrotary in suitable bearings and projecting through one end of theboat-body at a level below the water-line; a pedal actuateddriving-shaft located at a levelabove the level of the propeller-shaftand approximately parallel therewith; an inclined link connected at itsupper end by a universabjoint Ywith the driving shaft, and connected atits loiver end With the propeller-shaft by a universal-joint; and afly-Wheel 'fixed on the driving-shaft.

In a `.rater-cycle, the combination with a boat-body; and thepropeller-shaft through one end of the body g of a pedal-shaft, a driving-shaft; a connection between the driving shaft and propeller-shaft;gear-connections between the pedal-shaft and driving-shaft; agear-inclosing case comprising a body section, a cover section and abearing-box section, the three sections being detachably securedtogether to form a tightly-inclosing case, the body and. cover sectionsbeing provided With bearings for the pedal-shaft, and. the box sectionand the body section being provided With bearings for the driving-shaft5 and means for supplying the case-chamber with oil.

3. ln a Water-cycle, the combination with a pedal-operated propeller anda rudder; of a frame erected Within the boat provided With bearings forthe pedal-shaft; a seat mounted upon the frame; duplicate steeringmechanisms comprising a handle-bar in front of the seat and the steering.vieel in the bow of the beat; and operating connections between suchbar and Wheel and the rudder.

ln testimony whereof, l have hereunto set my hand this 21st day ofSeptember, 1907.

WM. CREPEAU.

lli/'witnesses Gno. A. Mosnnn, E. M. ORniLLY.

